There are a lot of theories as to why Judas betrayed Jesus. Maybe Judas was just in it for the money, maybe he doubted, maybe he was too ambitious and wanted higher status with the Sanhedrin. We may never know exactly why Judas did what he did and I believe that the reasoning is purposely left ambiguous because God wants us to focus on the mere concept of deceitfulness- to Jesus which leads to death.
I believe Judas betrayed Jesus because he gave in to the lie that Satan whispered in his ear that we all have heard. Judas wanted Jesus to be the God that Judas thought he should be, not the God he actually was.
Think about the history of Jesus’ coming. All the prophecy and hope laid upon years of a people who were enslaved and run out of their homeland. Years of stories about how the Messiah would come and the warrior, white horse, battle ready image they projected out. Yet here comes a man from Nazareth, no sword, no army, no white horse. He is a man who performs miracles, but is not the king Judas grew up believing would come. Not the savior or God that Judas had been raised to believe in. Man had projected this idea and thought that God would conform to his idea of who He should be instead of vice versa.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
Maybe Judas thought that forcing Jesus into a prison, into a life or death situation would cause Jesus to call down fire and brimstone- the armies of heaven to save him, and THEN the Jews would go into battle and defeat the Romans and live happily ever after because that was what he had been taught and expected. Maybe he – Judas- would gain great power and a seat in heaven for playing such a heavy part in the great plan. It was selfish and short sighted. He couldn’t fathom an ending greater than that because Judas was just human.
I’m not saying I’m absolutely right, but just take a minute to think about how many times you get into tight, stressful situations. You start to suffer and you get angry. Maybe someone does something to you and you mix up vengeance with justice. You think God should deal with somebody a certain way for what they have done, or think He should punish a certain people group for behaving a certain way…
“ I have come as a Light into the world, so that whoever believes in Me [whoever cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] may not continue to live in darkness. If anyone hears My teachings and fails to observe them [does not keep them, but disregards them], it is not I who judges him. For I have not come to judge and to condemn and to pass sentence and to inflict penalty on the world, but to save the world. Anyone who rejects Me and persistently sets Me at naught, refusing to accept My teachings, has his judge [however]; for the [very] message that I have spoken will itself judge and convict him at the last day.” John 12:46-48 AMPC
Jesus came to save the whole world, not just Judas’ world. We can instead think on Mary, whose meekness was highlighted when that special visitor came to her to announce her pregnancy.
“Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.” Luke 1:38 AMP
Her response wasn’t with if’s, and’s, or but’s…it was simply whatever YOU want Lord, in YOUR way, let it be done.
-Victoria Harrington
